During the week under review, chicken prices also reduced from Rs 5,700 per 40-kg to Rs 5,500, while in the retail market, live chicken is being available in the range of Rs 150 per kg against Rs 160-170 and chicken meat price reduced from Rs 280 to Rs 260 per kg. Egg prices remained stable at Rs 72 per dozen which in the retail market are being sold at Rs 84 per dozen. Sugar price was found stable at Rs 2,950 per 50-kg bag, which in the retail market is being sold at Rs 63-65 per kg. There was also no change in wheat flour price as a bag weighing 20-kg of normal quality wheat flour is available at Rs 750, while good quality wheat flour is being available at Rs 780 per 20-kg bag.
The survey observed that Nestle Pakistan has increased the prices of the some of the products in the range of 5-18 percent before the arrival of the budget, for instance milk creams of other brands is available in the range of Rs 80-85, while one pack of Milk Pak cream is being sold at Rs 95. The survey also noted that the stockists of Gold Leaf cigarette have started selling the brand in black by creating artificial shortage, which is a routine matter before the arrival of every annual budget. According to a trader Rafi Awan, cigarette companies and stockists every year mint money by overcharging the consumers.
A quintal of potatoes in the wholesale market is being available at Rs 2,000, while in the retail market potatoes are being sold in the range of Rs 18-25 per kg; price of onion went down from Rs 3,000 to Rs 2,600 per quintal, which in retail market is being sold in the range of Rs 25-40 per kg; ginger price was found stable at Rs 350 per 5-kg and best quality of local garlic is being sold at Rs 500 per 5-kg and normal local garlic at Rs 400 per 5-kg.
The price of lemon went down from Rs 1,400 to Rs 1,000 per 5-kg, which in the retail market is being sold at Rs 220 per kg against Rs 300. Prices of all the major pulses were found stable as maash is being sold at Rs 160 per kg, channa at Rs 170 per kg, lobia at Rs 100-120 per kg, moong at Rs 120 per kg and masoor at Rs 110 per kg. The rice prices were also found stable as best quality Basmati rice is available at Rs 120 per kg and normal quality rice at Rs 70 per kg.
Good quality fresh milk is being available at Rs 100 per litre while normal at Rs 85 per litre and fresh yogurt is being sold at Rs 100-120 per kg. Brinjal price went down from Rs 150 to Rs 120 per 5-kg in the wholesale market, which in retail market is being available in the range of Rs 25-35 against Rs 40 per kg. Cucumber is being available at Rs 80 per 5-kg, which in the retail market is being sold at Rs 30 per kg; a pack weighing 8-kg of radish in the wholesale market is being available at Rs 100, which in the retail market is being sold at Rs 15 per kg.
Okra price further went down from Rs 350 to Rs 300 per 5-kg which in retail is being sold at Rs 80 against Rs 90 per kg; peas price further went down from Rs 400 to Rs 280 per 5-kg which in retail is being sold at Rs 70-75 per kg against Rs 100; price of tinda went down from Rs 350 to Rs 200 per 5-kg, which in retail is being sold at Rs 50 against Rs 80 per kg; maro kadu at Rs 150 per 5-kg, and kadu at Rs 200 per 5-kg in wholesales market while in retail maro is being sold at Rs 40 per kg and kadu at Rs 50. Kareela price further went down from Rs 300 to Rs 200 per 5-kg, which in retail is being sold at Rs 50 against Rs 70 per kg and tori price went down from Rs 350 to Rs 300 per 5-kg, which in retail market is being sold in the range of Rs 65-70 per kg.
Cauliflower price was found stable at Rs 100 per 5-kg which in retail is still being sold at Rs 25 per kg and cabbage price remained also stable at Rs 150 per 5-kg which in retail is being sold at Rs 40 per kg. The price of capsicum remained stable at Rs 200 per 5-kg which in retail is being sold at Rs 50 per kg; beans price remained stable at Rs 300 per 5-kg, which in retail market are being sold at Rs 70 per kg.
The prices of entire range of fruits also remained on declining trend as melon is being sold at Rs 50 per kg against Rs 60 per kg, watermelon at Rs 30 per kg against Rs 40 per kg, best quality Chinese apple at Rs 170 per kg, local best quality apple Kala Kolu at Rs 140 per kg, golden apple at Rs 120 per kg and normal quality ambri apple at Rs 70 per kg. Best quality Indian banana is being sold at Rs 130 against Rs 150 per dozen and normal quality at Rs 110 against Rs 120 per dozen. Best quality local banana is being available at Rs 90 against Rs 100 per dozen while normal quality at Rs 70 against Rs 80 per dozen. Best quality guava is being available at Rs 80 per kg while normal quality guava is being available in the range of Rs 50-70 per kg, and the outgoing fruit orange is being available in the range of Rs 100/150 per dozen.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2017